Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 as Lucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (then also bassist), Olbrich, other guitarist Markus Dörk, and drummer Thomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch both left the following year and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively, who left as well before the end of the year. In 1987, Siepen joined, and Stauch returned; under this lineup, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), the band changed their name to Blind Guardian and released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. They have since released ten more studio albums, including an orchestral album that was released under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.
Over the releases, Blind Guardian established themselves as a notably successful band and as pioneers of the power metal movement. In 1996, Kürsch stopped acting as the band's bassist to focus on vocals. Various session members replaced him, mainly Oliver Holzwarth. However, in 2005, Stauch left the band, disapproving of Blind Guardian's transition into a more complex progressive sound with a heavy use of backing vocals, and was replaced by Ehmke.
Most of Blind Guardian's albums were well received by fans and critics alike: Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), and Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998), are especially seen as influential works. The music is mostly composed by Kürsch and Olbrich together, and the lyrics, written by Kürsch, are mostly inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a theme has developed which personifies the band members as traveling storytellers, leading fans to refer to the band affectionately as "The Bards." Blind Guardian has been referred to in one article as one of power metal "big four" bands, along with Helloween, Sabaton, and DragonForce.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian
Discography
Battalions of Fear (1988)
Follow the Blind (1989)
Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
A Night at the Opera (2002)
A Twist in the Myth (2006)
At the Edge of Time (2010)
Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)
Legacy of the Dark Lands (2019)
The God Machine (2022)
Brian
Blind Guardian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the sky is burning,
see the Moon falling down.
On your right is lightning.
See the war in the sky.
Remember Brian,
Remember Brian.
[Guitar solo]
All our empty heads
discover the war in the sky.
Don't need no revolution
by the birthday of Brian.
Remember Brian,
when it's time.
Remember Brian.
When the end is nearing,
see him hanging on the cross.
A war in the sky
now by the ending of Brian.
Remember Brian,
when it's time.
Remember Brian.
The lyrics of Blind Guardian's song Brian, can be interpreted as a cautionary tale of the dangers of war and violence. The opening lines describe a scene of chaos with the sky on fire, the moon falling, and lightning striking. This imagery suggests a world in turmoil, perhaps due to a great conflict. The lyrics then introduce the character of Brian, who may represent a person who has been affected by this conflict. The repeated refrain of "Remember Brian, when it's time" encourages listeners to not forget the human cost of war and to strive for peace.
The second verse suggests that people are often oblivious to the violence around them, with "empty heads" only discovering "the war in the sky" once it is too late. The following lines "Don't need no revolution by the birthday of Brian" may be interpreted as a call to action to prevent further conflict and to remember those who have been lost in previous wars. The final verse describes a tragic ending for Brian, who is hung on the cross, possibly indicating his death as a result of the war in the sky.
Overall, Blind Guardian's use of vivid imagery and the repeated refrain of "Remember Brian" reinforces the message that the cost of war is not just in terms of resources or territory but in the lives of people who are affected by it.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sky is burning,
Amidst chaos and destruction, as flames engulf the horizon,
see the Moon falling down.
The once powerful and stable, now losing its essence, Moon, descending towards the ground.
On your right is lightning.
The ominous force of nature, powerful and deadly lightning, striking on the right side.
See the war in the sky.
The raging, violent battle in the heavens above.
Remember Brian,
A call to recall one who was lost, perhaps a friend or loved one, named Brian.
when it's time.
When the time comes, whenever that may be.
All our empty heads
Humanity's collective ignorance and lack of understanding.
discover the war in the sky.
Recognizing the brutal and deadly conflict occurring above us.
Don't need no revolution
Revolutionary change is not necessary or desired.
by the birthday of Brian.
Brian's birthday is not a significant date for revolutionary action.
When the end is nearing,
Death or the end of something important is approaching.
see him hanging on the cross.
A vision of someone, perhaps Brian, enduring great suffering and sacrifice, akin to being crucified.
A war in the sky
A battle or struggle that continues to rage above the earth.
now by the ending of Brian.
A connection between the end of Brian's life and the ongoing strife in the sky.
Remember Brian,
A repeated call to keep Brian's memory alive.
when it's time.
When the time comes, whenever that may be.
Contributed by Lily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TegridyFarms
i actually love hansi's first raw and unpolished voice
drgfl01
I just learned that BG made a song about Life of Brian once.
I can finally die in peace.
Евгений Торопчин
Blind Maiden \m/_
Generic Hacker
Iron Guardian
UltimateTMF3
The guitar sounds like early Iron Maiden
Hans Hammerhart
The early irons
Ryan Thompson Guitarist
Sounds like a mixture of Purgatory and Aces High
Paul A
That cannot be a bad thing.
Peter Godzilla
@UltimateTMF3 That's it...and i wondered what it reminded me....
Kain
I love it too, I just prefer his trained voice more.